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Obituaries

To those Wilson Countians younger than say, 45, the name George Harding might not ring a bell. But to those of us living on the other side of 50, there was no one who stood taller in county government than Mr. Harding, who died Wednesday morning, Nov. 17 at the age of 88 at ElmCroft Assisted Living.

A Masonic service will be held at 6:15 Friday, Nov. 19 at the Frist United Methodist Church with a Celebration of Life following at 7:30 p.m. conducted by Bishop Robert Spain, Dr. Larry Locke, Dr. Martin Thielen and Rev. Bucky Hesson. A private graveside service was held Saturday, Nov. 20 in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

One of the architects of the present benefits package now enjoyed by county employees, as well as a champion of youth baseball, libraries, roads, and public education, Mr. Harding was a colorful, yet sometimes controversial character.

Ask Ken Beck

Dear Ken: What is comedic actor Eddie Murphy up to these days?Murphy, 49, recently signed to star opposite Ben Stiller in the movie “Tower Heist.” According to “Entertainment Weekly,” the plot has Stiller as the overworked manager of a Manhattan luxury high-rise partnering with his operation and maintenance workers to stage a heist of its penthouse tenant, a Wall Street capitalist, played by Alan Alda, who defrauded the staff of their pensions. Murphy was most recently the voice of the donkey in “Shrek Forever After,” and has completed filming “A Thousand Words,” about a man who discovers he only has 1,000 words left to speak before he dies. It’s set for release in early 2011.

General Lifestyle

VINE — Woodworker Tommy Nation hated the feeling in the pit of his stomach as he saw most of his co-workers pick up not a Christmas bonus check but their lay-off slip. It was three days before Christmas 1990, and he was just about the last man standing.

Not only did he grieve for his cohorts at the Mt. Juliet company that built swim platforms for competitive ski boats, but he realized his number could be up soon, too.

A hard worker and a quick thinker, within a couple of months Nation took matters into his own skillful hands and began a family business out of his carport in the Vine Community near the Rutherford County line. Today, Teak World Enterprises makes more swim platforms than any company in the United States.

"Everybody who works here is either my son, my brother or my nephew," Nation said about the business, born March 12, 1991, which also builds teak parts for boat companies and boat owners across the country.

From Post staff reportsTwo young mothers, both professionals, found themselves with some extra time on their hands some three years ago and decided to do something fun.

They approached The Wilson Post about writing a weekly column about their life experiences, and in turn, the lives of hundreds perhaps thousands of other working moms like them. The results have been amazing.

The two columnists, Becky Andrews and Angel Kane, have become a weekly favorite in Wilson County’s leading community newspaper, and their column was the foundation for developing a now very popular lifestyle magazine, Wilson Living. But wait, there’s more.

Now the inventors of “Telling Tales” are publishing their first book that is to go on sale this weekend at the Wilson Living Expo.

General News

GLADEVILLE -- Wilson County Sheriff’s Department School Resource Officers are still investigating the defacement of the Wall of Honor at Wilson Central High School this past week. WCHS Principal Darian Brown said on Tuesday that the SROs are “looking into leads” that have been provided.

He noted that last week, on Veterans’ Day, the Mt. Juliet High School senior class presented him with a $300 donation, collected by the students, and a “letter of regret” for what happened.

He said MJHS students helped WCHS students and other volunteers last Wednesday to repaint the wall in time for Veterans’ Day, which he said “showed a lot of class, effort and concern on their part.”

By TOMI L. WILEYSpecial to The Wilson PostMT. JULIET — A man employed by a Mt. Juliet construction company died Friday, Nov. 12 while working on a bridge spanning the Wolf River in Memphis, officials said this week.

Chief Manager Kevin Hinson of Mountain States Contractors, LLC said Monday that Rene Mendez, a carpenter with the company for more than two years, was killed on Nov. 12 while working on a bridge over the Wolf River in Memphis. Hinson said the situation is still under investigation, and he didn’t include details on Mendez’s death. He said that Mendez had been working on the project for over a year.

Mountain States Contractors, located at 5760 Old Lebanon Dirt Road in Mt. Juliet, handles heavy civil and highway work, Hinson said, and has been in business here for seven years.

Some of the country’s best songwriters will join country music star Gretchen Wilson for the third annual “MCA’s Music at the Mill” on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Tickets for the event are on sale now – great for Christmas gifts. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available by calling 444-2678 or online sales at www.mcclainchristian.org/mca-store/online-tickets.

The star-studded line-up is hosted by Wilson County’s own Gretchen Wilson. Among her hits are “I Got Your Country Right Here,” Work Hard, Play Harder,” All Jacked Up,” “Here for the Party,” and “Redneck Woman.” Performers include some of music’s most accomplished and wide-ranging talents.

General Sports

Watertown sweeps WH-Heritage -- Watertown High swept a pair from visiting White House-Heritage Tuesday night.The Watertown girls hammered WH-Heritage 50-14 in the head coaching debut for Lane Price. The Tigerettes jumped to a 32-7 lead and never looked back. Hailey Speck had 16, Hayler Clark added 12 and Morgan Gartner added 11.In the nightcap, Matt Bradshaw saw his Purple Tigers hang on for a 40-33 win over the Patriots.Watertown took control with an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter.Josian Smith and Cameron Jordan led the Tigers with 11 points each.Watertown will play at Merrol Hyde in Hendersonville Thursday for a 6 p.m. doubleheader.

Macon Co. sweeps LHS -- Macon County High took a couple of games from visiting Lebanon Tuesday night in a TSSAA Hall of Champions twinbill.The Devilettes dropped a 74-69 overtime loss to Macon County despite 24 from Julia Fox and 22 from recent Lenoir-Rhyne signee Marissa Jennings.The Blue Devils were their own worst enemy with 32 turnovers in Tuesday's 64-56 loss to Macon County.Zach Billenstan led the tigers with 16 points -- all in the fourth quarter.LHS got 18 from Cameron High, 14 from Hunter Christian and 13 from Kyrus Hoffinger.Lebanon will host Independence High Friday in a 6 p.m. doubleheader at Campbell Brandon Gymnasium.

MJ Bears sweep LaVergne -- Mt. Juliet High opened the season with a pair of home wins Tuesday night vs. LaVergne High.The Lady Bears took an 18-3 lead after one quarter en route to a 65-14 victory. Caya Williams led the way with 18 points and Page Baugher added 13.The Mt. Juliet boys needed overtime to dispose of LaVergne 54-49 in Tuesday's second game.Brandon Shepard had 14 for Mt. Juliet while Caleb Chowbay added 12 -- including five in the extra period.Both Mt. Juliet teams will participate in the Leroy Wright Tournament at Cane Ridge next week. The MJ girls play McGavock Tuesday at 7 p.m. followed by the Bears playing Antioch High at 8:30 p.m.